Cushioned vehicle-axle.



E. w. DAVIS. CUSHIONED VEHICLE AXLE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2v1, 1913.

1,1 1 3,545. Patented oct. 13, 1914 A TTORNEY.

derangement in use.

' nected to the popular type of main axle bar.

lfollowing is a specioatiorn reference being axle provided with similar 'EDWARD 'W'` DAVIS, 0F INDIANAPLIS, INDI'ANA.

CUSHIONED 'VEHICLE-AXIM Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 1s, 1914.

Application inea `mnu 21, 191e. semi 10,762,631

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwlno W. Davis', a citizen of `the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of indiana, have invented anew and useful Cushioned Vehicle-Axle, of which the had to the accompanying drawings, the letters and gures of reference thereon.

rlhe present invention relates to cushions tor knuckle-jointed steering axles, the invention having reference more particularly to a cushion connected with the knucklejoint of axles of the type commonly used in the construction of automobiles or similar vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a strong and reliable cushionedA vehicle 'nxle that shall he so constructed as to permit the cushion to be arranged es closely as possible to the steering-wheel.

A further object is to provide a cushioned steering axle of such construction as tohe durable and Aeconomical and not liable to vand to marked With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention comprises a stubf a cushioned spring and a novel housing therefor adapted to be con- The invention consists also in the novel parts and in the .combinations and arrangements of parts as hereina er particularly described and further pointed out in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is s top plan of one'end portion of an 'automobile steering axle provided with the improvement as preierably constructed and supported by a wheel; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationof Fig. l omitting'a portion-of the wheel Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the provement on the line A A in Fig. 1;

4 is a perspective view of one of the parts -Fi 5 is arspective gothe housibng of the broken away, being a portion of the stub-axle; Fig. 6 is -apers ective view of adust-cap preferably vprovi edfcr protecting the knuckle-301mg Fig-7 is a eeeticn n proximately on'tlxje line B B 1n Fig. 3; an Fig. 8 isa section on the hue GC inFigf.

view of the main part l spring and extends'about 'roterende characters indicate e parts or features of construction herein reerred to and described.

One steering-wheel and knuckle only is shown in the drawings as being sufficient to clearly illustrate the invention, it heing well known that in automobiles two steeringwheels. are commonly connected to one axle bar. ln the present case the axle har l may be variously formed and each end thereof has an upwardly extending portion?l from which extends a relatively horizontal ear-3 bevinga projecting boss 4 on its under side, an ear 5 extending from the lower portion of the axle ber so as to be opposite the ear 3. A pivot bolt 6 is fitted into Suitable openings and extends through the :ears 3 and 5, and it has a head l thereon that is seated Upon the top of the ear 3, a nut 8 being screwed onto the vlower end' of the bolt against the under side ofv the ear 5, which arrangement practically binds the two ears together and particularly-prevents the ear 3 from being Jforced relatively away from the ear 5.- hollow cylindrical housing part .9 is pro-- vided which constitutes a steering head having a suitable stub-axle l() on one side thereof. on which the' hub l1 of a suitable wheel 19. is rotatably mounted, theA stub-axle being vrelatively near the normal upper-end of the housing part op head, The head has a boss 13 on the opposite side of the normal lower portion thereof to which a. steering arm 14 isv secured. The upper portion of the housing or head has internal screw-threads 15 therein and the lower drical bore 16 therein iii-diameter than the remainder of the housing, so that-.an upward facing shoulder or ledge 17 is formed within they housing so-as to extend about the upper endof the bore, the latter preferably having a removable bushing 18 therein in order that lost mobe compensated for by Contact with the upper side through the bushing'. 18, the sleeve `bein-g closely' fitted in the bushing and on the pivot bolt. AA coil spring 20 of suitable'length is provided' which extends about the sleeve 'and "is seated uponthe ledge 17 and is inclosedinthe housing. A suitable ball-bearing plate 21 is seated upon-the top of the approximately to the wall of the lunising the .Sleeve 19 andortion has a cylinat is somewhat less and it extends upward. a suitable distance 40 34, 'the plate suitable upon the balls a similar plate 24 is placed and supported, the plate 24 preferably being slightl-yless in diameter than the internal dia-meter of the housing, so as to permit the passage of oil downward to the balls.

A washer 25 preferably is placed upon the upper' end of the sleeve'19 and upon the top of the plate 24, being practically a foot plate of a sleeve 26 which is supported on the top thereof and extends about the pivot bolt 6 and upward nearly to the boss 4. The housing includes a cylindrical head 27 which is provided'. with external screw-threads 28 .that screw into the upper end of the cylindrical portion 9, the threaded portion being somewhat less portion of the head, so that the vlatter has a shoulder 29 that is seated upon the part 9. The head has a bore 30 which receives the sleeve 26 and is movably guided on the sleeve. Preferably the vupper end` of the head has an annular recess 31 forming an oil-way from which to lubricate the exterior of the sleeve 26. The middle portion of the head has facets 32 recessed in the exterior portion of the head so as to constitute practically a hexagonal nut to which a wrench 'iameter of the removable part 27 1s equal .i to the external diameter of the main part 9. Preferably a dust-cap is provided which comprises a top plate-33 and a depending ange or rim portion 34- that is slightly greater in diameter internally than the part 27 externally, the upper portion of the housing part 27 'extending movably into the rim 33 of the dust-cap having a central aperture 35 that receives the pivot bolt 6, theplate being placed upon the top of the sleeve 26 and directly under thepboss 4. The combined lengthof the sleeve 19, the washer 25 the sleeve 26 and the top 33 of the dust-cap is equalto the length of the space between the boss 4 and the ear 5 betweenwhich those parts are closely held by means of the pivot bolt. The -top 33 has an c-'aperture 36 therein through which oil or grease may be inserted.' An annular cover 7 is placed upon the top plate 33 and extends about the boss 4 to be rotatably guided thereby, and it has an oil-hole38, therein'to be 4brought to the aperture 36 for inserting lubricant into the dust-cap which performs the function of an 'oil box.l whenrotated and stopped in proper position covers'the aperture'36. Preferably an oil cup 39 is' connected to the main part 9 of .the housing relatively closeto ,the` upper portitonlthereofffor feeding lubricant to the bearings uponthe spring.-

It willbe observed that the sleeve 1'9, the

6,5 washer, 12.5andfthe sleeve26 are all practiin diameter than the body may be applied. Preferably the external The cover 37- .russes cally fixed each with respect to the other and act as a unitary element Which preferably, although not necessarily, is formed in sections or different parts as described as a matter cf mechanical expediency and in the interest of economy in construction, the upper portion or sleeve 26 having a relatively thicker wall than the lower portion or sleeve 19, so as to safely sustain a load on the axle. Various modifications in the details may fairly be made within the scope of the appended claims.

In practical use the housing formed on the stub-axle 10 is carried thereby and supports the spring 20 'which shortens and 80 lengthens alternately when the Wheel is moving over uneven roads, so that the sleeve 26 supported upon the spring -moves vertically With respect to the guide part 27 or upper portion of the housing, the sleeve 19 being 85 movably guidedin the lower portion of the housing. The ear 3 being supported upon the sleeve 26 mainly carries the load placed upon the axle bar 1 but is assisted by the ear 5 and the pivot bolt 6 and the nut 8, so 90 -that neither ear is required to be awkwardly thick and strong as would benecessary if either one alone carried the load. On operation of the steering arm 14 the housing is guided rotatably on the sleeves 19 and 26 95 an turns relative to the dust-cap, the spring 20 being turned with the housing, but it should be understood that thestructure may be modified so that the bearings may permit the spring to remain stationary with respect to the sleeve 26 if so desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is* i 1. A cushioned axle including a hollow cylindrical supporting housing having' a .spring-seat therein, a coil spring supported upon the spring-seat, a hollow'sleeve in the housing and supported by means of the pring, a steering arm fixedly connected to the housing, an axle-.bar having an ear supported upon the sleeve and thereby mainly supporting the load of the axle bar, the latter having also an ear extending under the housing, and a pivot bolt secured to the ears and extending throu h the spring and the sleeve and enabling t e two ears to jointly support the load.

2. A cushioned axle including a hollow cylindrical housing having a stub-axle on its side for support, theinterior of the housing 120 having a spring-seat therein, a coil spring seated upon the spring-seat, a bearing plate supported upon the spring, a hollow s eeve `supported upon the bearing plate, a' loadl supporting axle-bar having van ear supported 'upon' the sleeve for inainly supportu ing a load'and an ear extending under the lower end of the'housing, and a pivot bolt extending through the earsandalso through the spring .and the sleeve and secured to the 130 'ears for enabling the two ears to'jointly support the load.

3. A cushioned axle including a hollow cyl-indrlcal housing having a stub-axle and a so a -boss thereon, the housing having a spring-seat therein, a coil spring supported upon the spring-seat, a sleeve supported by means of the spring, a dust-cap supported upon the sleeve and extending about the upper portion of the'housing, an axle-bar having an ear supported upon the .dust-cap and an ear extending under the housing, and a pivot bolt secured to the ears and extending through the spring and the sleeve and also through the dust-cap. f

4..A cushioned axle including a hollow cylindrical housing part having a supporting stub-axle on its side, the upper portion f of the housing part having a cylindrical guide part removably secured thereto, the lower portion of the part having a springseat therein, a sleeve movably guided in the guide part of the housing, a spring supported upon the spring-seat and supporting the sleeve, an axle-bar havingan ear supported upon the sleeve and an ear extending under the housing part, and apivotfbolt secured to the ears and extending through the spring and the sleeve..

5. A cushioned axle including a hollow 'cylindrical housing having a spring-seat in4 the lower portion thereof, a sleeve extending through and movably guided in the lower portion of the housing, a spring supported upon the spring-seat and extending about the sleeve, relatively movable bearing plates supported upon the spring and extending about the sleeve, a second sleeve supported upon the bearing plates and movably guided in the upper portion of the housing, a dustcap supported upon the second sleeve and extending about the upper portion of the housing, an axle-bar having an ear that is seated upon the dust-cap and an ear that extends under the-housing, and a pivot bolt secured to the ears'and extendingthrough the spring and the sleeves and also through the dust-cap.

6. In a cushioned steering axle, the combination of a hollow cylindrical housing uprightly arranged and-havinga spring seat in the lower portion thereof, the upper portion of the housing having ay bored cylinp drical guide part, the top of said part having an oilway extending about `the borev therein, a sleeve movable in the bore of the guide part, a spring supported upon the spring-seat and supporting the sleeve, a dust-cap supported upon the sleeve and extending over the top and about the upper portion of the guide part, the top of the cap having an aperture therein, an axle-bar havingA an ear .provided with a boss that isseated upon the dust-cap and an ear that extends under the housing, an annular plate upon 4the dust-cap extending about and rotatabl guided bythe boss and having an oil-ho e therein, and a pivot bolt secured to the ears and extending through the spring and the sleeve and also through the top of said dust-cap.

7. In a' cushioned steering axle, the combination with an axle-bar having two ears spaced apart, and a .pivot bolt extending through and vsecured to the two ears, of a hollow cylindrical housing part 'extending about the bolt and having a supporting stubaxle and also a projection thereon, the lower portion of the housing part being movably guided by the bolt, a steering arm secured to the projection, a coil spring extending about the bolt and supported by the lower portion of the housing part, bearing devices supported upon the spring, a sleeve supported up'on the bearing devices and extending about the bolt in contacttherewith and supporting the uppermost one ofsaid ears, an oil cup connected to said housing ,part above the plane ofthe bearing devices, and a cylindrical guide part screwed into the upper end of said housing part and movably guided on said sleeve, the guide part having facets thereon.

8. In a cushioned steering axle, the combination of a hollow cylindrical housing uprightly arranged and having a stub-axle on one side and a projectionon the opposite side thereof, a steering arm secured to the projection, a coil spring supportedin the.

ower portion of said housing, a sleeve movably guided in the lower portion of the housing and extending through the spring, a bearing plate extending about the upper portion of the sleeve andsupported upon the spring, the upper side also through said sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD W. DAVIS. Witnesses:

E. T. SrLviUs, CHARLES T. WiLLIAns.

ollow supporting means 

